Secret bar opens in Burringbar

A NEW cafe and speakeasy wine bar has opened in Burringbar, combining ethically sourced coffee by day with natural wines and a secret-entry bar by night.

The dual concept pairs Pour Good cafe, run by Jack and Sophia Deacon, with the Natural Wine Bar created by Bron Harrison.

Guests can enter the bar through a vintage Smeg fridge door in a nod to classic speakeasy style.

Harrison, who established the Natural Wine Shop four years ago, said she wanted to create a destination that encouraged people to explore.

“The secret entry concept adds theatre to the experience, while our ethos of ‘drink better, drink less’ guides everything we do,” she said.

“We believe that small amounts of quality alcohol can forge genuine connections.

“I could originally do tastings, but people would often ask for a glass of wine and I’d have to turn them away.

“When the opportunity came up to have a bar, I thought, fabulous, and so both the cafe and the bar opened at the same time.”

Deacon, who has worked in the coffee industry for 15 years, has collaborated with Harrison after his own business faced major setbacks.

He and his wife Sophia opened the former Elwood Cafe nearby in 2019, but after surviving bushfires, the pandemic and major floods, the business was destroyed by fire in June 2022.

“We have our roots heavily set in Burringbar, and we love this community so much because they supported us through so many crazy times,” he said

“The whole concept of Pour Good is about choosing good coffee and treating it with respect and pouring well.

“It means a lot to me to share the final story and pay it respect, because we’ve got the easy role, we get to sip coffee and listen to cool tunes, and the producers at origin are doing back-breaking work.

“I feel like it’s my duty to showcase the whole supply chain, so people are more aware of where the coffee is coming from.”

Both owners said the collaboration is a natural fit.

“There are many parallels between what coffee is to Jack and wine is to me,” Harrison said.

“There’s a crossover, like around smaller producers and excellence, so in terms of our ethos, and knowing each other as business owners, it just works.”

Italian chef Daniela Maiorano will join Harrison for a Savour the Tweed event on Friday, October 24, offering crafted bites paired with natural wines or non-alcoholic options over three sittings.

For information, visit @pour.good and naturalwineshopandbar.com.au